Museum of Watery Relations/Water Map

The Cape Town Museum of Watery Relations and the Water Map draw on transdisciplinary water values-related research to map and co-produce knowledge around various relations with water. The project aims to collaboratively develop an online interactive map of water users, sources, and uses. Alongside workshops, we provide a repository for submitting water samples, and accept virtual submissions (stories/images linked to local water sites) to develop an understanding of local water users and their perceptions of their water sources. As there is little African representation within the global network of water museums aside from Burkina Faso (see https://www.watermuseums.net), we accept submissions from the continent to contribute to this global discussion on water sources, and can provide data to create a more complete landscape analysis of water sources. By asking willing participants to submit water samples to our Water Museum, we are not only able to collect data on the quality of accessible water (such analysis we hope to be able to conduct, funding permitting), but we are able to map how and why certain water sources are chosen. This project engages widely with water users to develop an understanding of local values and evaluations of water sources beyond the technical and commonly accepted opinions of ‘experts’. The impact of this work includes mapping and visually displaying water sources, generating discussions around water values and sites, and increasing awareness of the diversity of relations people have with water.